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What Is DOME?
Introduction to DOME
DOME is an extensible system for graphically developing, analyzing and transforming models
of systems and software.
DOME comes with a pre-built set of notations which can be used 'out of the box' including UML, Coad-Yourdon OOA, Colbert OOSD, IDEF0, and Petri-Nets. The core of DOME, however, is its capability to develop new notations.
DOME is written in Smalltalk and will run on all VisualWorks platforms--Linux, Windows NT/95/98, most varieties of Unix, and the MacOS. VisualWorks is not needed to run DOME under Windows or Solaris. For other platforms, VisualWorks is available from Cincom International, which offers free noncommercial releases for Linux and Windows, as well as commercial releases.
Our download site provides the DOME executable for Windows and Solaris, complete Smalltalk source code, and documentation.
Uses of DOME
DOME is used to build models and to build notations. For quickly building models, DOME
comes with a set of notations, which can also easily be extended. But DOME is designed for
developing new notations, and then modeling systems based on them. For instance, if a
project needs a special interface description, a DOME notation could be developed for it,
complete with custom visual elements, required interface properties and analysis
reports.
DOME is also appropriate for academic use. It can be used in the classroom to teach the principles and advantages of modeling. Additionally, for doing research in modeling technology, DOME provides an environment to create new notations or fundamental concepts, and explore their potential.
Rights and Licenses
DOME is distributed under the conditions of the GNU Public Licenses and are explained in
detail on the Rights and Licenses page. However, two points
need to be emphasized:
The noncommercial and commercial releases of the VisualWorks Smalltalk environment from Cincom International. carry their own specific right and restrictions which are separate from the GNU licenses used by DOME.
The GNU Library General Public License permits new libraries for DOME to be offered commercially under some circumstances. This does not pertain to core DOME library, and also requires adherence to several GNU restrictions.
Description and Screen Shots
DOME's major strength is its ability to build specialized new notations. At the most
fundamental level, notations are defined by filling in properties on its object model
using the DOME Tool Specification Language. This definition can include object class,
property and relationship definitions, connector types, dynamic object appearances, tool
buttons, menus, annotations, and semantic relationships. Graphical languages can also
include textual, numeric, and symbolic annotations.
Additionally, DOME includes a graphical meta-modeling capability called ProtoDOME, which
allows building new notations and running them in an interpreted mode.
Projector and Alter are DOME's code and document generation tools: Projector, is a visual dataflow language; and Alter, its functional textual cousin, provide the functionality to write complex model transformations.
All DOME notations are based on a common foundation, and therefore have a common look and feel, are interoperable, and are form and menu driven.
The screen shoots below depict a special notation, developed for designing home automation systems. The following features are illustrated:
On-line Help
Object Property Definition (for Tool Specification)
Function Summary
Plug-in Function
- Object Property Definition (for Domain Specific model)
DOME Tool Specification
Domain-Specific Model
Links are provided to expanded views of each of the key areas.
On Line Help
Object Property Definition for Tool Specification
Function Summary
Plug-in Function
Object Property Definition for Domain Specific Model
DOME Tool Specification
Domain Specific Model
